"... There is, perhaps, no edition in which the works of Shakspere can be read in such luxury of type and quiet distinction of form as this, and we warmly recommend it."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
"For elegance of form and beauty of typography, no edition of Shakspere hitherto published has excelled the "Parchment Library Edition." ...
They are in the strictest sense pocket volumes, yet the type is bold, and, being on fine white hand-made paper, can hardly tax the weakest of sight. The print is judiciously confined to the text, notes being more appropriate to library editions. The whole will be comprised in the cream-coloured parchment which gives the name to the series."--_Daily News._
"The Parchment Library Edition of Shakspere needs no further praise."--_Sat.u.r.day Review._
_Just published. Price 5s._
AN INDEX TO THE WORKS OF SHAKSPERE.
Applicable to all editions of Shakspere, and giving reference, by topics, to notable pa.s.sages and significant expressions; brief histories of the plays; geographical names and historic incidents; mention of all characters and sketches of important ones; together with explanations of allusions and obscure and obsolete words and phrases.
By EVANGELINE M. O"CONNOR.
LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE.
SHAKSPERE"S WORKS.
SPECIMEN OF TYPE.
4 _THE MERCHANT OF VENICE_ ACT 1
_Salar._ My wind, cooling my broth, Would blow me to an ague, when I thought What harm a wind too great might do at sea.
I should not see the sandy hour-gla.s.s run But I should think of shallows and of flats, And see my wealthy Andrew, dock"d in sand, Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs To kiss her burial. Should I go to church And see the holy edifice of stone, And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks, Which touching but my gentle vessel"s side, Would scatter all her spices on the stream, Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks, And, in a word, but even now worth this, And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought To think on this, and shall I lack the thought That such a thing bechanc"d would make me sad?
But tell not me: I know Antonio Is sad to think upon his merchandise.
_Ant._ Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate Upon the fortune of this present year: Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.
_Salar._ Why, then you are in love.
_Ant._ Fie, fie!
_Salar._ Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad, Because you are not merry; and "twere as easy For you to laugh, and leap, and say you are merry, Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Ja.n.u.s, Nature hath fram"d strange fellows in her time: Some that will evermore peep through their eyes And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper; And other of such vinegar aspect
LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE.